For those unaware, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1930, Eileen Rodgers began her career as a local nightclub performer before joining Charlie Spivak’s orchestra, giving her a grounding as a big band singer.

In the early ’50s she got work on radio and was offered a recording contract with the Columbia label. Making her first records in 1955, she was one of those singers with her roots in the middle-of-the-road styles of the post-war decade, and who were unlucky enough to come to the fore just at the point when rock ’n’ roll was arriving in the charts. She nevertheless scored several hits, before turning her talents towards the Broadway stage in the late ’50s and early ’60s.

This 57-track 2-CD collection comprises most of the A&B sides of singles on the Columbia and Kapp labels, plus the titles from her Columbia album Blue Swing, and selected songs from her performances in cast recordings of her Broadway shows Oh Captain, Fiorello, Tenderloin and Anything Goes.

It includes her US pop hits Miracle Of Love, Give Me, The Wall, Don’t Call Me Sweetie, Third Finger, Left Hand and Treasure Of Your Love. She was a stylish and versatile performer, and this collection is a worthy introduction to an artist we don’t hear too much about.

Simply put, if you want to listen to singers who know how to carry you away to the magic that was yesteryear then you can’t get much better than the delightfully appealing Eileen Rodgers. I mean, she just has the voice that reminds you of how good the good old days really were.

She had a half-dozen songs make the charts, her most successful single being Miracle of Love in 1956, which reached number 18 and 24 respectively, on the Billboard and Cash Box pop charts.

Being a huge Broadway fan myself, in New York, she appeared in a musical revue, Chic, which led to Broadway, where her debut was as Mitzi in Fiorello! singing the show-stopper, Gentleman Jimmy. Her second show was another Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick musical directed by the famed George Abbott, Tenderloin, about which the fastidious critic, Harold Clurman, said her good looks was one of only two things he could remember.

Interestingly, her final professional appearance was with comedian Bob Newhart in 1967 at Chicago’s Palmer House, but this wonderful new 2CD set is a wondrous tribute to the lady herself.

This new complete collection of her A&B sides of singles on the Columbia and Kapp labels, along with the titles from her Columbia album Blue Swing, and selected songs from her performances in cast recordings, any of which have not been heard since their original release, just goes to show how incredible a career she really had.

Disc 1:
1. Just A Little Bit More 2. Now Is The Time 3. I Had To Lose You To Love You 4. Desperate Hours 5. You’re Wrong All Wrong 6. Some Of These Days 7. Miracle Of Love 8. Unwanted Heart 9. I Wish I Didn’t Have To Dream So Far 10. Give Me 11. This Day 12. The Wall 13. Everything But Love 14. Don’t Call Me Sweetie (Cause I’m Bitter) 15. Crazy Dream 16. Third Finger Left Hand 17. Happy Love 18. That Ain’t Right 19. I’m Not Afraid Anymore 20. Just In Case You Change Your Mind 21. Careful, Careful (Handle Me With Care) 22. I’m Alone Because I Love You 23. Treasure Of Your Love 24. A Little Bit Bluer 25. I Never Know When To Say When 26. King Of My Heart 27. Brand New Heartache 28. The Best Of Friends 29. ’Til Tomorrow 30. I’ll Always Be In Love With You

Disc 2:
1. You Were Meant For Me 2. I Wish I Was The Moon 3. Older And Wiser 4. I Cry By Night 5. The Phone Call 6. You Better Decide 7. Wait Till Tomorrow 8. The Nightingale Who Sang Off Key 9. Love Has Finally Come My Way 10. Sailor 11. Wabash Blues 12. Am I Blue 13. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 14. Solitude 15. I Guess I’ll Have To Dream The Rest 16. Sunday 17. I’d Climb The Highest Mountain 18. I Ain’t Got Nobody 19. Lonesome Road 20. I Cried For You 21. After You’ve Gone 22. Femininity 23. Gentleman Jimmy 24. Little Old New York 25. My Gentle Young Johnny 26. I Get A Kick Out Of You 27. Anything Goes

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